Way to Row!

Taryn Smith is the first American woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

World’s Toughest Row

Taryn Smith rowed across the Atlantic Ocean alone.

When Taryn Smith read about a team of women who rowed from California to Hawaii in just 34 days, she decided she needed an adventure of her own. Recently, the 25-year-old became the first American woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

“I wanted to do something big in my 20s,” Smith told People magazine. “I wanted to spend the rest of my life knowing that I was capable of something like this.”

After training for three years, Smith signed up for the World’s Toughest Row, a 3,000-mile (4,800-kilometer) rowboat race across the Atlantic Ocean. Some people do the race in teams. Smith was one of 10 rowers who decided to do it alone.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

This map shows the route Taryn Smith took during the World’s Toughest Row.

The race began on December 14, 2025. Smith decided to row for 10 to 12 hours a day, sleeping at night. Her boat was stocked with plenty of food and snacks, along with equipment, including a satellite phone she could use to call for help if there was an emergency. But as prepared as she was, Smith knew she couldn’t predict everything.

There were scary moments, like when storms caused the waves to toss the boat around. There were times when she couldn’t sleep and her exhaustion made it hard to row the boat.

World’s Toughest Row

Smith rows the boat that took her across the Atlantic.

But there were also beautiful moments, like when she saw two whales swimming nearby. At one point, one of the whales breached, or jumped vertically out of the water. Smith watched as its giant body broke through the surface of the water and then came crashing back down again.

“I’m still trying to find the words for how amazing that moment was,” Smith told the Idaho Statesman.

World’s Toughest Row

Smith’s rowboat had an area for sleeping so she could rest during her journey.

Smith arrived at the island of Antigua on January 29, after 46 days, three hours, and 37 minutes on the ocean. She hadn’t only made history. Her time was also faster than she expected.

“I hope people understand that you should take on your biggest challenges…. Even if it’s scary,” she told People. “You can do it.”

Did You Know?

Scientists aren’t sure why whales breach, but it might be a way they communicate with each other. The loud splash makes sound waves that travel quickly through the water.

A Rowing Legend

From A Book of Cornwall by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1906

Ann Glanville

Rowing a boat is hard work, but that hasn’t stopped people from having fun while doing it. Regattas, or boat races, have existed for hundreds of years. In the 1800s, a legendary rower emerged in England. Her name was Ann Glanville.

Glanville was born in 1796 in Saltash, Cornwall, England. Her husband was a “waterman,” meaning he transported people and goods across the local river in a rowboat. When he got sick, Glanville took over his job so the family would continue to have the money they needed to survive. Glanville was tall and strong, and she proved to be a natural at rowing.

This statue of Ann Glanville is located in Saltash, where Glanville lived.

At the time, there were many regattas in the area where Glanville lived. Most of the rowers were men, but Glanville saw no reason why women couldn’t be part of the fun. In the 1830s, she put together a team of women rowers. The Saltash team took part in regattas all over England, and even beyond. They raced against many rowing teams—and usually won. On some occasions, Glanville’s all-female team raced against all-male teams.

Today, Glanville is famous in her hometown of Saltash. If she were living today, maybe she would attempt to row across an ocean!

Keeping Boats Afloat

(Top row) A rowboat and a sailboat. (Bottom row) A motorboat and a canoe.

Did you know that boats have been used for more than 10,000 years? How does a boat work, and what keeps it from sinking?

You can learn more about boats at Britannica!

WHAT'S THE WORD?

seaworthy

Part of speech:

adjective

Definition:

: fit or safe to travel on the sea

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Criss Cross

Can you figure out where each word fits?

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“In the News: Way to Row!” Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level1/way-to-row. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]